European Parliament Calls for Holocaust Remembrance Day

The European Parliament has called for the institution of an annual European Day of Remembrance of the Holocaust in order to combat the emergence of revisionists.

The Parliament, the legislative body of the European Union, adopted a resolution at a recent session in Strasbourg, France, asking for the member states to institute the day of commemoration.

Parliament members stressed their concern about the upsurge of racism, anti- Semitism and xenophobia facing the international community.

In the resolution, the 626-member body said, “Europe must respond firmly and clearly to these threats. Peace in Western Europe since 1945 will not continue if the totalitarian and racist ideologies of the Nazis, which led to the Holocaust of the Jews, the genocide of the Gypsies, the mass murder of millions of others are not prevented from spreading their pernicious influence.”

Members also talked of the importance of education in the preservation of memories. The Parliament said that on the European Day of Remembrance of the Holocaust, activities should be organized that illustrate to young people the dangers of totalitarian and racist ideologies.

The Parliament called on the European Union Executive Commission to draw up a pilot project for the organization of this day.

It also urged the European Council of Heads of State or Government to adopt an overall strategy to combat racism and xenophobia to ensure that the European Union and its member states give a clear and firm response to racism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism and Holocaust-denial.